By Jesus’ Wounds we Are Healed 22^nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

Jeremiah 20:7-9; Psalm 63; Romans 12:1-2; Matthew 16:21-27

             In the first reading, the prophet Jeremiah cries out to God that “All the day I am an object of laughter; everyone mocks me.” Then, the prophet identifies why he is mocked, why people are laughing at him. People mock Jeremiah because he is speaking to them words that God inspires within Jeremiah: “I say to myself, I will not mention him, I will speak in his name no more. But then it becomes like fire burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones; I grow weary holding it in, I cannot endure it.”         

When we are mocked and ridiculed, we have a strong tendency to hide from people, to try to hide within ourselves by not speaking up, by becoming like a clam that firmly closes its shell and protects itself with its hard shell as it tries to become invulnerable, incapable of becoming wounded. In this withdrawn state, we grow ashamed of being publicly embarrassed and humiliated, which leads us to isolate ourselves further, much like Adam and Eve hid after they sinned.         

In this withdrawn, isolated state, we may even, like Adam and Eve, isolate ourselves from God by falling into the error that God does not hear our prayers and does not truly care for us as a loving Father. Then, we may grow in resentment and inner anger against those who have said mean things about us and acted meanly towards us. We also may then foster resentment against God.         

If what was just described happens, then we have identified ourselves with our wounds; we have allowed our identity to be defined by what people have said about us and done to us, and the proof is in our response to these words and actions: shameful withdrawal.         

This, though, was not the response of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Jesus never, asserts Sr. Miriam Heidland, “Jesus did not tie his identity to his wounds, to what people said or did to him.”[1]Evidence that Jesus did not tie his identity to his wounds is that he was not ashamed of his wounds; instead of hiding and withdrawing from others, including from his heavenly Father, Jesus remained boldly merciful before others and called upon his heavenly Father even more, as is evident in his prayers on the Cross. “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)          After his Resurrection, Jesus even showed his wounds without any shame and “by his wounds we are healed” as Isaiah prophesied. (Isaiah 53:3)          

Even though Jesus was ridiculed and mocked and even when much worse actions were taken against him for preaching the truly loving words of God, he did not become like a clam that firmly closes its shell and protects itself with its hard shell as it tries to become invulnerable, incapable of becoming wounded.        

 Jesus also never once was resentful towards anyone, including his enemies. Jesus remained open, vulnerable, and responded immediately to insults and persecution in two main ways, by continuing to speak truth, and by continuing offering forgiveness with the desire that as many people as possible will seek to be reconciled by accepting God’s loving truthful ways that only want what truly will bring us deep meaning, happiness, peace, and love.         

Lord Jesus, we draw close to you, including in times when we feel like closing up, withdrawing like a clam, and isolating ourselves in a state of self-reliance. Instead, we open ourselves to you in the spirit of dependence on you, in the love of the Holy Spirit, believing ever more deeply that we have a most loving Heavenly Father who delights in each one of us as, in you, His beloved sons and daughters. – May the Lord Bless All of You – Father Peter